House Finch

Carpodacus mexicanus

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Identification

Field notes

15 cm (6") Abundant in west; rapidly expanding in east especially in urban areas where it was introduced in the 1940's. Cities, parks, farms, canyons, feeders.

Male: brown cap. Red to orange line over eye. Red or orange throat and breast. Streaked sides. Similar Purple Finch lacks streaking on side and has a lower less strident song.

Female: sparrow-like; dull brown, heavily streaked above and below. Plain face - lacks the distinctive ear patch and eyebrow stripe of similar female Purple and Cassin's Finches.

Song: lively high-pitched warble with harsh notes often ending in a nasal "wheer"; whistled "wheat " call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

5 photos

Credit: Richard Griffin

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

House Finch

Credit: Larry Bond

House Finch - HD Mini-Documentary

Credit: James Knott

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

House Finch (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:1038-house-finch-male:1:1 Source: 1038 House Finch (Male), row 1

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 7

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline

result:1038-house-finch-male:2:1 Source: 1038 House Finch (Male), row 2

House Finch (Female)

2 rules

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:1039-house-finch-female:1:1 Source: 1039 House Finch (Female), row 1

Rule 2 6 criteria confidence 7

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Was the bird seen best or only on the ground ?: No
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Feeding at flowers
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline

result:1039-house-finch-female:2:1 Source: 1039 House Finch (Female), row 2